Who's the real you?

Chapter Thirty- Two

Another morning, another morning jog.

Belle allowed the cool air hit her skin as she ran as fast as her body allowed across the beach, she watched her footing as the water pushed and pulled away from her.

She basked silently in the rays of the rising sun.

Belle let her breathing escape through her lips as she tried to let her thoughts go silent, she needed them to go silent.

She halted herself to a stop, she allowed herself to catch her breath before turning her attention out to the water as it crashed amongst itself.

Belle wondered what would happen if she just gave up, gave up being known as the wife of Alytain, what would happen if she just gave up on her two children, what would happen if she just walked away from everything she had gained in the past twelve years.

She knew she wouldn't have to deal with rumours and lies, she knew she wouldn't have to deal with the pressure, she knew she wouldn't have to deal with the tears.

Belle took a few steps back before allowing herself to sit on the beach.

She let her mind focus on the waves as joggers ran past her.

Belle tried not to let her mind wonder to all the what if's it was starting to think about.

"Are you okay?" There was his voice, the voice she recognised from yesterday.

Belle shifted her attention up to Channing, she watched as he sat down next to her. He kept a small distance between them, almost as if he knew that he shouldn't be close to her yet knew he could.

"Yeah. You?" Belle half heartedly smiled.

"Yeah." Channing smiled a little.

She took full notice of him; he had a slight tan to his skin. His black hair cut short though she could notice he would be probably be worried about the length of it, maybe he was trying to grow it out a bit? She watched his chest heave, his shirt struggling to hide an ounce of chest hair peeking through. She shifted her eyes to his dark eyes; she couldn't see a hint of betrayal or lies in his eyes.

"Your not a local, are you?"

"What gave it away?" Belle shifted her attention to a dog and their owner walking past.

"Your accent. Where is it from?"

"Swindon"

Channing hadn't heard of Swindon before.

"It's the UK."

"Oh." He held back on his British jokes, not that he had many to begin with.

"Yours?" Belle knew that was a dumb question.

"My accent?"

Belle nodded.

"Well, it's aussie."

Belle liked the way he said aussie, he sounded quite relaxed with the way he was speaking to her. She felt in this moment that Channing had nothing to give her, but words and she was okay with that. "Which part?"

"Sydney."

"Oh." Belle wasn't sure what that oh was supposed to mean. She stared out into the water again.

"What brings you down to our shores?"

Belle shrugged a little "Sea change." Were the only two words she managed to say as she shifted her attention to Channing "What's a Sydney boy doing here on the coast?"

Channing little a small smile slip across his lips as he word the words the coast, he could tell she was trying to fit into the Australian language "Just a sea change." He kept his answer just as vague as hers.

Belle didn't mind his vague answer, she didn't actually care why he was at the gold coast, she was just trying to be polite. Maybe that's what she needed, a conversation with someone other than the people who knew who Belle was.

Channing carefully studied Hannah's features, the way she let her face change with simple expressions, he watched as she glanced back to the water. He had this sinking feeling that he was annoying her "I should go."

"Please stay." Hannah shifted her attention to him "It sounds stupid but it's nice just to have some company for a change."

Channing understood that feeling "Well, Hannah." He wasn't sure how to word his next sentence "Shall we sit for longer or would you like to race to the footpath?"

Hannah gave a genuine hint of laughter "I think I'm too exhausted for a race."

Channing nodded slightly; he allowed the two of them to sit in silence for a moment.

Hannah didn't think as she rushed up to her feet.

Channing shifted his attention as he realised what she was doing, he stumbled up to his feet as he ran after Hannah, he allowed her to keep her head start as the two of them ran to up the beach to the footpath.

Hannah couldn't help but burst out laughing as she caught her breath. She brought herself to a stop off the beach.

"That was cheeky." Channing brushed the sand of his pants.

Hannah playfully shrugged "Sometimes the cheeky is worth it." She wasn't sure where that sentence had come from. "Same time tomorrow?"

Channing was taken back by Hannah's forwardness.

"Sorry." Hannah quickly realised her mistake "Clearly it's been a while since I've had adult interaction." She scrunched up her face "Sorry, not that like. I have two kids." She fumbled her words.

"It's fine. I have plans for tomorrow. How about the next day? Meet back here and we can run together?"

Hannah nodded her head "I'd like that."